Governance Participation

Participation in Flare’s governance is open to all holders of Wrapped Flare (WFLR) tokens. Each WFLR token equals one vote, giving holders direct influence over proposals related to the network’s development and operations. This structure enables the community to play an active role in decision-making.

To participate, users must first wrap their FLR tokens into WFLR through the Flare Portal. Once wrapped, tokens can be used for governance voting or delegated to data providers. Delegation allows users to earn rewards while remaining eligible to vote on network proposals. The Flare Foundation and the Flare VC Fund do not participate in governance voting. This policy ensures that power remains with the broader community and prevents concentration of influence by core entities.

Proposal Types

Flare uses three types of governance proposals to support changes across both its main network and its testing environment:

• Flare Improvement Proposals (FIPs) are used for updates or changes to the Flare Network. To pass, more than 50% of votes cast must be in favor.
• Songbird Improvement Proposals (SIPs) are similar to FIPs but are specific to the Songbird canary network. These also require over 50% of votes in favor to be accepted.
• Songbird Test Proposals (STPs) are intended for testing new features or ideas. These are accepted by default unless a minimum quorum of 75% of voting power is reached and the majority vote against the proposal.

Governance Process

Each governance proposal follows a defined process that includes announcement, snapshot, voting, and result publication. The process starts with a proposal announcement, followed by a notice period for community feedback and clarification.

Before the vote begins, a snapshot is taken of all accounts holding WFLR. This snapshot determines voting power based on token holdings at that moment. Only tokens held before the snapshot are eligible for voting.

The voting period typically lasts for one week. During this time, eligible accounts can vote for or against the proposal using their WFLR tokens. After voting closes, the results are tallied. If the proposal meets the required support threshold and, when applicable, quorum levels, it is approved for implementation.

Role of Songbird

Songbird is Flare’s canary network and serves as a test environment for proposals, upgrades, and new features. It allows developers and the community to observe the impact of changes before they are introduced on Flare’s main network.

Proposals often begin on Songbird as SIPs or STPs. These allow for real-world testing with actual user participation and incentives. If the proposed changes are successful and stable, they may be submitted later as FIPs on the Flare mainnet.

This two-layered governance approach strengthens the decision-making process. It allows ideas to be evaluated under realistic conditions and reduces risks associated with launching untested features directly on the main network. Songbird reinforces Flare’s governance system by improving reliability and offering a space where innovation can be trialed with lower consequences while still involving the community.

Highlights

• Governance participation is open to all Wrapped FLR (WFLR) holders, allowing anyone with WFLR to vote on proposals that shape the network’s future.
• There are three types of proposals: FIPs for Flare mainnet changes, SIPs for Songbird network changes, and STPs for testing features on Songbird with minimal approval requirements.
• The governance process includes proposal announcements, WFLR snapshots, a one-week voting period, and public result publication, ensuring transparency and fairness.
• The Flare Foundation and VC Fund do not participate in governance, preserving decentralization and preventing centralized influence over protocol decisions.
• Songbird serves as a testing environment for governance and upgrades, enabling real-world testing of proposals before they are submitted to the Flare mainnet.